Patients Are Going Blind Due to 6-Month Waiting Lists for Cataract Surgery

Source: The (London) Telegraph

Patients face going blind while waiting for cataract surgery after new figures showed waiting times for operations have risen in more than half of NHS authorities, according to a report in The London Telegraph.

Average waiting times of almost six months are being recorded in the worst areas, with waits increasing by 50 per cent in some parts of England over the past three years.

Delaying cataract surgery can cause isolation for patients who lose the confidence to leave their homes as their sight deteriorates, and can in some cases increase the risk of permanent sight damage or post-operative complications.